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Symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers

The signs your child may have ADHD or ADD fall into three common areas:

Hyperactivity

Impulsivity

Inattention

Not every child will experience these signs to the same degree and it is also common for children and teenagers’ behaviour to be different or more pronounced in different settings. It’s also common for children with ADHD / ADD to experience differing symptoms as they grow up, so as a parent you may notice a shift in the challenges they experience – this is normal.

A diagnosis of ADHD / ADD requires an impact to be seen in a variety of settings – a thorough assessment should seek feedback from parents, schools and other environments your child spends time in to fully understand this.

It’s also important that parents understand that there can be other reasons why a child might behave in a ‘bouncy’ way or find it really hard to concentrate. These may include ASC or mood disorders.

Understanding the reasons behind your child’s behaviour is therefore crucial to getting the right treatment in place and a thorough assessment will look at whether there is another reason that would better explain your child’s behaviours.

Hyperactivity

Common signs of the hyperactivity element of ADHD / ADD in children and adolescence include:

Being constantly on the go

Fidgeting a lot - finger drumming and tapping are common

Squirming in their seat

Leaving their seat when they are expected to sit still

Being disruptive in class

Struggling to do activities quietly, will often make a lot of noise when playing a game

Inability to suppress activity when stillness is required

Impulsivity

Common signs of the impulsivity element of ADHD / ADD in children and adolescence include:

Blurts out answers without waiting for them to be asked fully

May not raise their hand in class but calls out answers

Struggles to wait their turn

Whilst waiting in line they may poke or annoy other children

Interrupts other children’s games and conversations

Acts without due reflection or thought

Inattention

Common signs of the inattention element of ADHD / ADD in children and adolescence include:

Makes careless mistakes

Struggles to complete tasks

Does not listen when told instructions and needs them repeating

Struggles to complete jobs at home or schoolwork

Difficulties organising tasks

Dislikes activities requiring a sustained mental effort

Becomes easily distracted by irrelevant information

Often loses things

Struggles to finish tasks, misses steps out, does not complete work

Other symptoms of ADHD / ADD

Other common signs that a child may have ADHD / ADD include:

Poor handwriting

Social clumsiness

Poor coordination

Mood swings

Learning disabilities

Difficulties sleeping such as taking a long time to fall asleep

Bed wetting is common in children with ADHD

Dr Banerjea is 'one of a kind". He is remarkably empathetic, non-judgemental and has he unique ability to connect with adolescents. A truly professional, experienced clinician. It is a great shame that adolescents suffering with mental health issues are unable to have access to a clinician like Dr Banerjea. He gives psychiatrists a good name.

Sarah, Bedford

Types of ADHD

1. Predominantly inattentive (ADD) ADHD

Stereotypically, it is thought that girls with ADHD are more likely to have this type, but Psychiatrists will see both girls and boys who meet the criteria for ‘ADD’ or inattentive ADHD.

Children with inattentive ADHD seem to be sitting quietly, but are often not listening or paying attention. Children with Inattentive ADHD can often go undiagnosed as their behaviour is not as obviously disruptive. Left undiagnosed, these children may develop self-confidence issues as they may feel they are ‘stupid’ or unable to complete tasks. They can experience inner turmoil as they struggle to finish tasks or be able to listen to the instructions required of them.

2. Predominantly hyperactive – impulsive

Children with hyperactive / impulsive ADHD fit the stereotypes of ‘bouncing off the walls’, fidgeting and getting up from their seats even when they are asked to sit quietly. Children with this diagnosis can take risks, such as jumping from heights and can be disruptive in a classroom.

A lot of young children with ADHD will display hyperactive tendencies – as they mature and grow older they are able to learn different ways of manging their restlessness. For instance, teenagers tend to fidget more, but will be able to remain in their seat.

3. Combined

For a child to be diagnosed with combined type ADHD, they have to experience both symptoms of hyperactive and inattentive ADHD. This can mean a child experiences all the restlessness and fidgeting of the hyperactive element, but also gets easily distracted, struggles to complete a task and may forget to turn homework in on time.

Many of the behaviours described above are experienced by all children from time to time, which can make it hard to know if your child has ADHD. As a general rule, children with ADHD often do not act like other children their age, experience the above behaviours in a variety of settings and whilst doing a variety of activities.

Understanding the symptoms of ADHD allows both teachers and parents to look at a set of difficulties in a new light, and move away from labelling certain behaviours as 'being naughty' or 'difficult'.

Dr Partha Banerjea is a very senior and experienced Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist. He is currently the Lead clinician for Southwark CAMHS, and has for the last 15 years managed a specialist outpatient adolescent service. This is a...

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